Is my Raymond Weil worth repairing?
Discussion
I'd appreciate your help. I'm no expert on watches and indeed I'm not that into them. I've had this watch from new. I had it serviced about 5/6 years ago and shortly afterwards it misted up. I dried it out, but it has some corrosion on the dial and hands, I then didn't use it (I tend to wear a fitness tracker). I thought it was a shame it wasn't used so sent it to Watch Doctors for an estimate to service and repair.
They can service and replace the hands for just under £300. However they won't even try to polish the corroded hour markers and state the case is too worn to re-seal so it won't be WR (I don't work as a builder or something and it doesn't look damaged, just used.
Should I just bin it, seek a second opinion or just suck up the corroded hour markers on the face and never get it wet?
They can service and replace the hands for just under £300. However they won't even try to polish the corroded hour markers and state the case is too worn to re-seal so it won't be WR (I don't work as a builder or something and it doesn't look damaged, just used.
Should I just bin it, seek a second opinion or just suck up the corroded hour markers on the face and never get it wet?
Edited by TV200 on Thursday 6th November 15:35
TV200 said:
I'd appreciate your help. I'm no expert on watches and indeed I'm not that into them. I've had this watch from new. I had it serviced about 5/6 years ago and shortly afterwards it misted up. I dried it out, but it has some corrosion on the dial and hands, I then didn't use it (I tend to wear a fitness tracker). I thought it was a shame it wasn't used so sent it to Watch Doctors for an estimate to service and repair.
They can service and replace the hands for just under £300. However they won't even try to polish the corroded hour markers and state the case is too worn to re-seal so it won't be WR (I don't work as a builder or something and it doesn't look damaged, just used.
Should I just bin it, seek a second opinion or just suck up the corroded hour markers on the face and never get it wet?
If you like it: Second opinion, take a view on the price and effectiveness of the repair. I would not pay to have a non-water resistant watch. You may find someone who can make it watertight without issue, however.They can service and replace the hands for just under £300. However they won't even try to polish the corroded hour markers and state the case is too worn to re-seal so it won't be WR (I don't work as a builder or something and it doesn't look damaged, just used.
Should I just bin it, seek a second opinion or just suck up the corroded hour markers on the face and never get it wet?
Edited by TV200 on Thursday 6th November 15:35
If you don't or it cannot be made water-tight: Ebay and out the (probably small amount) of money towards something you do like.
Nice looking watch though.
You could get it repaired, I've seen full on smashed watches have lugs laser welded back on, so anything is possible. It would have to be really sentimental though as the cost would be pretty big.
If you can let it go, do so and buy something in its place. There's a huge amount of great stuff to pick from at the moment for all price ranges.
If you can let it go, do so and buy something in its place. There's a huge amount of great stuff to pick from at the moment for all price ranges.
Frankly I'd be surprised if another watch of that model would fetch £300 on ebay. If you can get a replacement cheaper than you can get a repair, then unless the watch has sentimental value...
It might be difficult to source an identical replacement, but it would give you something to do with your time!
It might be difficult to source an identical replacement, but it would give you something to do with your time!
It doesn’t hold much sentimental value so I’ve cancelled the repair. I’ll contact a couple of the suggested people for a second opinion as I quite like it and if it could be repaired for £300 I’d spend it, otherwise I’ll just wear it until it stops working! Thanks for all your inputs.
It doesn’t hold much sentimental value so I’ve cancelled the repair. I’ll contact a couple of the suggested people for a second opinion as I quite like it and if it could be repaired for £300 I’d spend it, otherwise I’ll just wear it until it stops working! Thanks for all your inputs.
I think I'd be sending it back to Raymond Weil for repair, they're more likely to be able to restore it correctly. I suppose the question of cost etc comes down to how much a new one would cost. I don't own any of their watches, but I'm guessing this example cost around £1,000 so probably worth doing at only a third of the purchase price.
TV200 said:
Joe at Anglesey Watches and Clocks did a fantastic job at a fraction of Watchdoctors estimate, improved the face and waterproofed the watch. Thanks for the recommendations and in turn I d recommend him. I m looking to wearing my RW for a few more years now!
That looks lovely, congratulations.That looks great now! Its lovely to have something refreshed than buying new I find.
I too have found watchdoctors to have unusually high pricing.
They wanted close to £300 for a replacement Seiko Kinetic capacitor which eventually cost £40.
My parents used them last year to fix a broken 1973 rolex and they have refused to tell me how much it cost so I can only imagine!
I too have found watchdoctors to have unusually high pricing.
They wanted close to £300 for a replacement Seiko Kinetic capacitor which eventually cost £40.
My parents used them last year to fix a broken 1973 rolex and they have refused to tell me how much it cost so I can only imagine!
Some years ago my FIL took his broken Rolex to Rolex to price a repair. The watch was from the 60s (possibly earlier) and had been left to him.
“£800” was the reply. And, when asked how much it was worth, the answer was “£800-£1000”.
My MIL, who is as unsentimental as they come, said he should throw it away. I’d heard of Joe at Anglesey Watches and recommended that route.
Since my FIL was retired at that point, he had a jaunt along the A55 and, £150 and one lunch later, returned with a fully repaired Rolex. Alongside his Omega he wears it to this day and, with luck, it will go to my BIL in due course.
OP go to an independent repairer and see what they can do..!
I’m about to take my father’s c45 yo Tissot to a watchmaker near me. It’s not worth a lot in monetary terms but, given that he’s just retired and is most likely terminally ill, I thought he might like to have it running again.
Sometimes, even when they’re not worth a lot in monetary terms, the sentimental attachment justifies the spending of the money.
“£800” was the reply. And, when asked how much it was worth, the answer was “£800-£1000”.
My MIL, who is as unsentimental as they come, said he should throw it away. I’d heard of Joe at Anglesey Watches and recommended that route.
Since my FIL was retired at that point, he had a jaunt along the A55 and, £150 and one lunch later, returned with a fully repaired Rolex. Alongside his Omega he wears it to this day and, with luck, it will go to my BIL in due course.
OP go to an independent repairer and see what they can do..!
I’m about to take my father’s c45 yo Tissot to a watchmaker near me. It’s not worth a lot in monetary terms but, given that he’s just retired and is most likely terminally ill, I thought he might like to have it running again.
Sometimes, even when they’re not worth a lot in monetary terms, the sentimental attachment justifies the spending of the money.
TV200 said:
Joe at Anglesey Watches and Clocks did a fantastic job at a fraction of Watchdoctors estimate, improved the face and waterproofed the watch. Thanks for the recommendations and in turn I d recommend him. I m looking to wearing my RW for a few more years now!
Brilliant! Glad it worked out. Watch looks lovely. Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff